Title
Authorizing the creation of an electric-assist scooter pilot program to be conducted from August 2018 until no later than the first measurable snowfall of 2018.
Body
WHEREAS, Mayor Carter’s Administration and the City of Saint Paul value innovation, resilience, and equity, including in transportation options; and
WHEREAS, electric-assist scooters ("e-scooters") are an emerging new mobility option that has proven very popular in other cities across the U.S. and internationally for moving around town using a low-carbon mobility option; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul would like to pilot the use of e-scooters for the remainder of the year, until the first measurable snowfall, in order to gather information about levels of use, for what purposes, appropriate parking locations, and more; and
WHEREAS, an e-scooter sharing program could nicely complement public transit, the City’s new dockless bikeshare system, car-sharing, ride-hailing, and other mobility options that make it easier for Saint Paul residents and visitors to reduce their ownership of private automobiles and thereby save a great deal of money, reduce traffic congestion, and reduce carbon emissions; and
WHEREAS, the City seeks to learn more about whether e-scooter users are using the vehicles as transportation, recreation, or a combination of the two; and
WHEREAS, the City has developed a pilot program that includes a short-term permit that will allow commercial e-scooters to be legally parked in the City’s right-of way, including a fee structure, insurance requirement, cap on the number of scooters that any one vendor can deploy, parking requirements, and data-sharing data with the City; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby authorizes the creation of an e-scooter pilot program to be conducted from August 2018 until no later than the first measurable snowfall of 2018.